Choosing Wellbeing Over the Hustle: The Beauty of Slowing Down
Let’s get straight to it...
The first five months of this year? Whew. They took me out!
I was doing all the things, working, parenting, launching projects, finishing college full-time, and starting a brand new career as a REALTOR®. Meanwhile, I was trying to eat right, move daily, drink water, and mind my business. Full throttle. Every day. Until my body said, “Nah sis, sit down.”
I wasn’t just tired, my full-body shutdown. Mental fog. No energy. Nap #3 by noon. Yeah, it got real.
But in that stillness, this one quote hit me in the gut: “You can only go as far as your body will allow.”
And when the farthest you can go is from the bed to the bathroom? That quote starts sounding a lot like wisdom.
Turns out, I’d been pouring into everything but me, no real rest, spotty meals, late nights, zero margin. I kept pushing like I had something to prove… and my body proved me wrong.
What This Season Reminded Me (And Maybe You Too)
This isn’t just my story, it’s a shared one.
Because if you’ve been stretched, overbooked, or just plain tired of being tired, you’re not the only one.
Here’s what I had to relearn:
Rest is not a reward. It’s a requirement.
You don’t hustle your way into earning it. You build it in because your peace matters daily, not just after the crash.When you’re not well, nothing around you flows well.
Not your parenting, your purpose, your relationships, your business, none of it.Pushing through isn’t always strength.
Sometimes, it’s just survival in disguise.
Burnout brought me clarity. It exposed where I was overcommitted, undernourished, and spiritually disconnected. But more importantly, it invited me to rebuild. With rhythm. With rest. With God at the center.
How I’m Leaning Into a “Soft-ish” Life
I’ve never really been a fan of the term “soft life”, but I’ll admit, this last season pushed me to lean into it. And honestly? I’m starting to like it here.
Here are a some ways I’m choosing to be softer with myself and move at a new rhythm.
1. Time With God First
Before anything or anyone gets my energy, I start and end my day with quiet time for myself and my Creator. Morning and evening, I sit with prayer, devotion, worship, Bible study, and journaling. That time isn't optional, it centers me, strengthens me, and resets my perspective daily. I need it like I need water. It's how I stay rooted when life is moving fast.
2. Simple Meals, Less Stress
I’m not in the kitchen experimenting right now, I keep it simple. I eat mostly the same nourishing meals every day. It cuts down on decision fatigue and keeps me from falling into random, unhealthy eating when things get hectic. I learned a while ago to stop eating just for pleasure and start eating for purpose. During busy seasons, this way of eating saves time, supports my energy, and makes one less thing I have to think about.
3. Time Blocking What Matters
If it’s important, it goes on the calendar. I block time for work, rest, movement, meals, even thinking. It’s not rigid, but it’s intentional. It helps me protect my energy and focus on what matters most.
4. Weekly Planning Days
Every week, I carve out time to plan, meals, appointments, goals, priorities, everything. This is the moment I zoom out and ask: “What do I need this week to feel supported?” It helps me stay in control of my schedule instead of letting my schedule run me. Planning ahead also keeps me from living in reactive mode and makes it easier to honor the boundaries I’ve set.
5. Sacred Reset Days
One day a week, I go offline. No emails. No calls. No social. Unless it’s an emergency, I’m unavailable, and that’s on purpose. I use this day to rest, reflect, and recharge so I can show up fully the rest of the week. It’s become a non-negotiable in my routine.
6. Movement That Supports My Mind
I move my body not just to stay fit, but to stay mentally and emotionally well. Whether it’s a walk, a workout, or stretching, movement is how I clear my head and shake off stress. It's not about chasing a look. It’s about how I want to feel.
7. Earlier Bedtime (Work in Progress)
Still working on this one, but I’m making small shifts: I know that quality sleep is foundational to everything else, my energy, focus, mood, and even how I show up spiritually. So I’m making small changes, like winding down earlier, cutting off screens, and not scheduling anything that pushes too late into the night. It’s a habit I’m still building, but I’m committed to giving my body the rest it needs.
If you’ve been running on fumes lately, I hope this meets you with grace.
There’s power in pausing.
There’s healing in slowing down.
And there’s nothing soft about honoring your limits, it’s wise. It’s grown. It’s sustainable.
Take a breath.
Take a beat.
Because you can only go as far as your body will allow—
and you deserve to go far, and go well.
